Ford Bronco-based ute to replace Ranger - report
A Ford Bronco-badged pickup will reportedly launch in the US by the end of the decade, replacing the Ranger in North America.
Ford insiders have claimed a pickup based on the Bronco SUV is set to launch by 2030, leaving the future of the Ranger in North America in doubt.
As reported by Automotive News, the insiders claimed the Bronco-based pickup will be built at Ford’s Michigan Assembly Plant, current home of production for the North American-market Bronco SUV and Ranger.
Details are light, though it’s understood the Bronco pickup will be a part of the Wayne, Michigan plant’s transition to become a Bronco-exclusive facility, as there are reportedly no plans for the next-generation Ranger.
The reports of the Bronco pickup being added to the lineup by the end of the decade bring questions to light about its underpinnings.
Currently, the Bronco is based on the same Australian-designed and engineered T6 platform as the Ranger and Everest. The Bronco launched in 2020, while the current Ranger and Everest went on sale in 2022.
Previous reports by US outlet Autoweek from insiders have claimed the new-generation Bronco SUV will come in the 2031 model year, meaning a market arrival in 2030 – or potentially 2029, aligning with the latest Bronco pickup rumours.
Ford’s decision to potentially discontinue the Ranger in the US by 2030 isn’t a huge surprise, as it’s a comparatively slow seller compared to other rivals in the mid-sized pickup segment.
Last year, Ford sold 70,960 Rangers in the US, behind the segment-leading Toyota Tacoma (274,638 sales) and the Chevrolet Colorado (107,867 sales), while only just ahead of the Nissan Frontier (67,027) and Jeep Gladiator (56,790 sales).
The Bronco meanwhile is a far more popular nameplate, achieving 146,007 sales in 2025, its highest figure since the modern iteration launched at the start of the decade.
Given the Michigan Assembly Plant is tooled for the T6 platform, it’s likely to remain under the next Bronco SUV and the rumoured pickup, though it’s not yet known what this could mean for the Australian market Ranger.
The Ranger sold in Australia is mostly built in Thailand (aside from the plug-in hybrid variant, which is made in South Africa) alongside the Everest, with these facilities also building the pair for South-East Asia.
European and African versions of the Ranger are produced in South Africa along with the rebadged Volkswagen Amarok.
The Ranger has been a success in Australia, where it has been the best-selling new vehicle for three consecutive years since 2023, and is likely to continue that in 2026.
While the potential replacement of the Ranger in North America with a Bronco-badged pickup may impact its economies of scale, it’s more than likely to live on in Australia and other regions, should its current success continue.
